On June 6, 2013, one year ago this month, the Banjo Hangout lost one of its own. Don Buedel, of Murphysboro, Illinios, known to most of us as "modon," passed away at the age of 59. I only knew Don from swapping tunes and stories online with him in the Banjo Hangout Chatroom, but I knew him to be a talented artst and a true gentleman, and considered him a dear friend. He is missed by all of us who haunt the chatroom instead of taking care of business, and it is not the same in there without him.

One night back in October, 2012, I heard Don fiddling a tune in the chatroom called Simon Stole a Turkey Egg. I'd never heard it before, and thought it was a cool tune, so I recorded the last few minutes of it, with the intention of learning it later. I have never heard anyone else play it, and I'm still not sure where he got it. Don had a fine ear for a good tune, and I had figured on learning it, but the world is paved with good intentions, and so I didn't get around to it until now. I have attached a video below; I am three finger picking my 1902 Fairbanks Whyte Laydie, in open D tuning.

Don must have been especially fond of the tune, because it is the first cut on the CD he recorded with Frank LeBlanc, called How the Cow Ate the Cabbage. I have the CD, and really enjoy it. I understand that Don's son Clay, also a BHO member, has some left. You can contact him through his BHO Homepage, to obtain a copy.

Don was a founding member of the Ozarks Heritage Festival in West Plains, Missouri. The festival folks have posted a tribute to Don on their website, which you can find here. Scroll about half-way down the page and you will find it.

Don died of a heart attack, quietly in his sleep. He passed far too young, but when my time comes, that's how I want to leave this earth.

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Created 11/4/2005
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Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Started playing banjo when I was in high school. Moved to Boston in 1969 to go to college, fell in love with a local girl, got married and settled down in the Boston area. I retired last June. I'm a committed shade tree picker, play three finger style, but lean more to old-time than bluegrass these days.